Hermans tells the war, free from denial and anti-Semitism

A novel from 1958, set in the years of the Second World War, which tells the story of a “partisan by chance” and allows you to re-tune your thoughts on the subject of wars to greater clarity. Particularly in the days when Ukraine is invaded by the Russians. Healthy readings such as “The dark room of Damocles”

In times of war – the one in Ukraine, in this case – it is always healthy to have some new books on hand to try to re-tune one’s thoughts on this matter to greater clarity. And it is therefore fortunate that it has just come out “The dark room of Damocles” from Willem Frederik Hermans (1921-1995). The appearance in the catalog of Iperborea of ​​this 1958 novel makes an important contribution to the usability in Italian of a great Dutch writer, of which in our language only “At the end of sleep” (Adelphi) and l ‘unforgettable long-short story “The empty house” (Bur), also set, like “The dark room of Damocles”, during the Second World War.